CHAIRMAN S MESSAGE No. 1 February Reg. Charity No

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1 2011 No. 1 February Reg. Charity No CHAIRMAN S MESSAGE It is with regret that I have to announce that two of our long standing volunteers have resigned. Peter Reay and Ian Farrell between them have served the Society for over twenty-five years. Peter has been editing the Devon Bird Report from 1999 and wrote a section prior to that year. His keenness to ensure accuracy with each report is a testament to him. I worked closely with Peter for six years whilst County Recorder and I know the loss of his service to the Society will be greatly missed. Ian, will be known to members in recent years as our webmaster a job which he performs with enthusiasm and dedication. I first met Ian when acting as legal advisor to the Society on the wording of its new constitution when I first noticed his commitment, business acumen and a keenness to get the job done, a style he showed throughout his service as a trustee on Council, as Chairman of the Publishing Group and right up to present as Vice Chairman. On behalf of the Society I would like to thank both Peter and Ian for their service to the Society and wish them the very best for the future. Whilst Chairman I have set myself various tasks, last year it was the completion of the Birds of Devon book and ensuring the preparation of the Devon Tetrad Atlas was on a sound footing, both thankfully were achieved. This year my task is probably more difficult in that I will attempt to find volunteers to fill vacancies on Council and other posts that are vacant. This is where I hope members will help. Apart from Editor and several section writers working on the DBR, Editor of the Harrier and many other roles urgently need to be filled. I am sure there are many members who have experience of editing and preparing short notes who would be willing to find a few hours to help us. It is important the Society continues to be vibrant, grow and succeed in the future, but this can be only achieved with more volunteers coming forward to help. Hopefully you will be able to help, and if so, please contact me on for an informal chat. Ian Farrell has been kind enough to store most of our books, data and some archives. Now Ian has stood down and planning to move abroad the Society is now seeking unused office space, even a spare room in a house to store this material. Here again your help is sought, or know of someone who may be able to help, so please contact me. 1

2 This year will see the continuation of members social evenings enabling your trustees to meet and get to know you. The last was deemed a success and it has been agreed to continue these to eventually cover the whole of Devon. It is the turn next for the members of North Devon, which is provisionally set for April. Other areas will follow. I wish all members a spring and summer of good birdwatching. Mike Tyler GREY WAGTAIL ROOSTS Long term DBWPS member Bill Madge wrote to me recently about a Grey Wagtail roost he had found in a willow overhanging the river by The Mill on the Exe at Exeter. On 16 th October he saw five birds. He thought there might be more so returned the next evening and counted 27 Grey Wagtails going to the roost between hrs. A week later he checked and again counted 27. Four weeks later the leaves had fallen from the willow tree and the roost was down to just six. Bill goes on to say Grey Wagtails are just wonderful birds to watch and more so in numbers. I suppose it is no surprise they communally roost but not a sight one comes across regularly like Pied Wagtail sites. I wonder what other Devon records there have been? A quick look through the last few years records didn t show any evidence of roosts. I e- mailed Dennis Elphick our Pied Wagtails man, he mentioned a similar roost at Slapton back in the 1960 s (Maurice Edmonds) and his own experience of catching birds at a roost in Cheshire in the late 1980/1990 s. Others I spoke to were not aware of any Grey Wagtail roosts in Devon. I decided to Google it and to my surprise only one relevant item appeared and it was from the website of our own John Walters ( John found a small roost several years ago on the River Dart near where he lives and each year since I understand he has found a roost of varying numbers somewhere in that area. Please contact me if you have any information on Grey Wagtail roosts in Devon. Julia Harris (Asst. County Recorder), 6 Clonway, Yelverton, Devon PL20 6EG. Tel: clonwayteam@btopenworld.com LUNDY EXCURSION SUNDAY 8 th MAY 2011 Sailing from Bideford 9.00am prompt. Boarding from 8.30am Returning to Bideford approx. 8.00pm Tickets available from Mark Humfrey Morada, St. John s Lane, Barnstaple, Devon EX32 9DD Tel: Adults - 25 Children 16 2

3 DIARY DATES Field Meetings EAST DEVON 16 th Mar West Charleton Marsh meet Ashburton Arms pub SX am 25 th Mar Tarr Steps, Exmoor meet c/p SS am 5 th Apr AGM Guest Speaker Stan Davies Blue Ball Inn Sidford A pm 10 th Apr Somerset Levels, W.Sedgemoor, Greylake meet Swell Wood c/p ST am PLYMOUTH 7 th Mar Slapton SX meet tank c/p 9.30am TAW & TORRIDGE 20 th Mar Beara Charter Farm SS meet at farm am Leader Gerald Nicholas 17 th Apr Woody Bay SS meet at lower c/p 10.00am Indoor Meetings SOUTH DEVON TAW & TORRIDGE Held at Court Farm Inn, Abbotskerswell at 7.30pm 21 st Mar Falconry and Hybridisation Steve Hopper 18 th Apr Birding the South Island of New Zealand 3 Dave Norman Held at Park Community School, Barnstaple at 7.30pm Admission 2.50 including refreshments. 8 th Mar AGM followed by Climate Change not as bad as we thought! Mike Towns 12 th Apr Galapagos and The Amazon Gill & Phil Marlow All Members are welcome at any meeting organized by the Society or branches. Field Meetings may be cancelled in bad weather, if in doubt, please contact the appropriate organiser details in the Programme. Organisers and Leaders of field meetings need to take all possible precautions to ensure that the area to be visited is safe and that there are no hazards that could possibly lead to accidents. If possible, walk the route beforehand and report any problems to the appropriate authority. REMINDER END of YEAR RECORDS If you have yet to submit your 2010 records, please send them to the Assistant Recorder/Data Manager Julia Harris recorder@devonbirds.org as quickly as possible for inclusion in both the 2010 database and Devon Bird Report. If you need to latest electronic spreadsheet or any help with submitting your records please contact Julia Harris Tel: recorder@devonbirds.org

4 STOKE WOODS MANAGEMENT PLAN The managers of the paintball company operating in part of the Stoke Woods SSSI are looking to gather baseline data on the range of species found in the woods they operate in and the abundance of those species. The information gathered will inform future management of the site with regards to woodland management to provide necessary habitats and the provision of nest boxes where natural sites do not exist. Past records suggest that Pied Flycatcher have bred and that several pairs of Wood Warblers were present although none have been recorded in recent times. Lesser Spotted Woodpecker have also been recorded here in the past and a thorough search for them may prove fruitful. If you are interested in conducting this survey work please contact Jemma Box BSc (Hons), Forest and Land Management, Coppers, Yarcombe, Honiton, Devon EX14 9LS.Tel: (office)mob jemma@forestandland.co.uk. Nik Ward Tel: TAW/TORRIDGE BRANCH FIELD MEETING Sunday 9 January 10.00am at Hartland Point attendance 16 members Leader: Norman Briden. With Lundy Island standing out clearly in the distance, and Guillemots and a lone Gannet flying past, members gathered to view Barley Bay. A lone Peregrine flew past landing on the headland, where another joined it. At sea several Red-throated divers were spotted, and riding the waves with them were Guillemots, Black-backed gulls and Cormorants. Two ravens were then sighted on the same headland as the Peregrines. On to Taw Forest where we hoped to spot Great Grey Shrike which had been over wintering, no luck, but Goldcrest, Long-tailed tits and four Buzzards calling overhead. On to Bude Marsh, and in a clearing in the reeds Shoveler and Gadwall were seen, and a Kingfisher perched in a bush above. A Water rail was seen by some, also good numbers of Reed buntings. A little further on two Pied and a Grey wagtail seen on the river bank as we made our way along the path bordering the marsh. Many Snipe were present along the cleared channels of the reed bed, also Teal and Wigeon. In open boggy fields at the end of the reserve we saw many Canada geese, Lapwing, Wigeon, Teal, Starling, Snipe, Meadow Pipit and a lone Dunlin! To finish the day we called at Bursdon Moor hoping to see Hen harriers coming in to roost. We were not disappointed we all had excellent views of three ringtails coming down to roost. We also had Merlin, Sparrowhawk, Jays, Fieldfares and Stonechat to end a lovely day. A total of 49 species recorded. Jackie Bosley and Maria Fernandes CORRECTION The telephone number quoted in the Programme 2011 for the Sales Secretary Maria Fernandes and Jackie Bosley is incorrect. This should read Please note this also applies to the Taw/Torridge Field Meetings programme. 4

5 American Purple Gallinule Devon and the DBWPS have been under the spotlight during the last week after an American Purple Gallinule was found dead on the morning of 24th in a Mary Tavy garden. The house owners phoned the RSPB, who passed the query on to Assistant County Recorder Julia Harris. Julia was handed the corpse late afternoon on 24 th, with the idea of it being an American Purple Gallinule already been mooted by the couple who found it. This was confirmed later that evening after several photographs were taken, and the news was soon posted on Devon Bird News Blog ( The next morning the news had spread across the UK birding network creating an incredible amount of interest it s just a pity the bird was dead! The RSPB, along with the DBWPS sent a press release out on 25 th with a fine selection of Julia Harris s photos. After the bird was weighed and measured by local ringer Tony John, an article was uploaded on to the BirdGuides webzine jointly written by Tony Whitehead (RSPB) and myself, again illustrated by Julia s photos. American Purple Gallinule has been recorded twice in the UK before. One was picked up exhausted (and soon died) on the Isle of Scilly 7 th November 1958, and one was found dead in Bedfordshire in April or May The Devon bird will join the skins of these two birds at Tring Museum, London. Steve Waite DEVON ATLAS CAN YOU FILL IN SOME GAPS? The Devon Atlas is coming on and we have a new website (address above)! Let us know what you think. Whilst we are always in need of more tetrad surveyors it is important to try and make sure that the data we get is as complete as possible. Both the Devon and the National Atlas are recording whether or not a bird is breeding in the area. For the National Atlas this is in the 10km square but for our own Atlas we hope to record this for every tetrad! This is a huge amount of work but where you can really help even if you are not a tetrad surveyor. If you see evidence of a bird breeding, 5

6 such as carrying nesting material or food, or you know where there is a nest, please let us know. Later in the year you might see a parent bird feeding young - this is good evidence of breeding in the area. You can go on to the BTO website and record it as a roving record but if you are unsure how to do this then contact us by phone, , by at devon.atlas@devonbirds.org, or click on the Contact us link on the Devon Atlas website. The map shown here is the records we have so far of blackbird confirmed breeding. We know this bird breeds in nearly every tetrad so, as you can see, there are a lot of gaps. Can you fill some in? 6

7 DEVON BIRD REPORT 2009 Thanks to those, including Joy Vaughan and her envelope stuffing team of Roger and Lynne Doble, David Paull and Paul Stubbs, who helped ensure that the report was delivered well before Christmas. Thanks also to those who have sent various messages of appreciation. The only errors reported to date are: p. 55. Bittern. The bird on 7 Mar was at Beesands Ley, not Broadsands. p American Herring Gull. The photo was by Brian Heasman, not Matthew Knott. p Long-eared Owl, Grand Western Canal, was found on both 4 & 12 Apr by AJC, so the most appropriate initials covering both records are AJC,RJJ,RKT et al. p Blue-winged Teal, Aveton Gifford, This BBRC record was listed under Not Proven, but in fact it is still in circulation, presumably to assess its provenance. Peter Reay GEMS from the ARCHIVES A New Biography of E.W. Hendy As most readers will know, E. W. Hendy was a founder member of our Society, and I covered what little I knew of his life in an article detailing our Society s formation, published in Devon Birds Vol. 51, No. 3, October I was recently approached by a Dr John Austin of Trowbridge, Wiltshire, who wanted permission to use a photograph of Hendy from the Society archives, for a new biography of Hendy, then in preparation. The article entitled: "Ernest William Hendy, Solicitor, Ornithologist and Poet" has now been published by the Friends of the Trowbridge Museum, in Trowbridge History Vol. 5 (2010). I am grateful to Dr Austin for supplying me with a copy of his article for our archives. It is a wonderful piece of research into the life of a man who played such an important role in the establishment of our Society. As an example of the detail to be found, I even discovered the name of the chaffinch Hendy was holding when our archive photograph was taken! Apparently he was particularly fond of his tame, lame garden bird he called Gouty. Such biographies are an important part of our archives, for they give a background picture of the life and times of keen ornithologists from a different age. The day will come when those of you today, who play an important role in the continued existence of our Society, are no longer with us. Please consider leaving something of your life and times in our archives for those who follow us. Thank you. Dave Jenks (DBWPS Archivist) 7

8 Wetland Bird Survey (WeBS) 2010 counts. Thanks to all counters who have now entered their 2010 data online or sent in core count forms; and thanks in anticipation to those who are about to do so. Count dates until the end of the current WeBS year are 13 Feb, 13 Mar, 17 Apr, 15 May & 12 Jun. New counters are needed for: Grand Western Canal Fossend Bridge to Lowdwells (a new extension to the existing GWC site). Please contact Ray Jones ( or Exeter River Valley Park. Please contact me if interested. Some recent changes. New sites added to the Devon WeBS list, all on Dartmoor, are: Avon Dam Reservoir (covered by myself); Brook Manor Lake (Kevin Cox); and ECC Pit Complex (Rob Lillicrap). Grateful thanks to Kate Stapleton who has taken over the Axe Estuary from Donald Campbell, and grateful thanks to Donald for his long stint as WeBS counter there. Pete Reay ( or Have you paid your membership subscription for 2011? You have until the end of February to pay, before your membership lapses. Current Subscriptions are 18 for UK members, 28 for those in Europe, 33 for those living in the rest of the world and 10 for Juniors (under 16 on 1 st January) Have you remembered to cancel your old Standing Order Mandate? Despite all the notices in the Harrier during 2010, only 217 out of 1018 managed to pay the correct amount into the correct account. Out of 1018 who pay an annual subscription, 30 of you paid twice and 363 only paid the old fee so far. The notices in the Harrier are put there because they may affect you please read them. The Society is yours; please do your bit to support it. MEMBERSHIP DATABASE The Membership Database on the website is there for you to edit your own details, when necessary. Contact treasurer@devonbirds.org or call him on if you have difficulty. Please, only click on the Submit button at the bottom of each page in your database record, IF YOU CHANGE SOMETHING. 8

9 Bird Notes Most of these records are unchecked and as yet unauthenticated. Birds present for more than one day are only mentioned on their first day, unless the count increases (e.g. Waxwings). For the very latest Devon bird news visit: Please send your bird sightings to either: County Recorder - Steve Waite 38 Durley Road, Seaton, Devon, EX12 2HW T: E: recorder@devonbirds.org Assistant County Recorder - Julia Harris 6 Clonway, Yelverton, Devon, PL20 6EG. T: E: recorder@devonbirds.org December 1 Bewick s Swan Axmouth; Whooper Swan (2) Braunton Marsh; Surf Scoter (still) Dawlish Warren; Great White Egret Slapton Ley; Spoonbill Axe Estuary; Spoonbill and Snow Bunting Exminster Marshes; Lapland Bunting Berry Head; tristis Chiffchaff Clennon Valley. 2 Bewick s Swan Exminster Marshes; White-fronted Goose Dawlish Warren; Jack Snipe Clyst Marshes; Woodlark (6) Colyton and (2) Axmouth. 3 Spoonbill Dawlish Warren; Black-throated Diver (3) and Jack Snipe Thurlestone; Jack Snipe Northam Burrows; Ruff Otter Estuary; Velvet Scoter Seaton Hole; Woodlark (18) Colyton; Hawfinch (10) Ide; Black Redstart (2) Exmouth. 4 Yellow Wagtail (eastern?) Colyford WTW; Balearic Shearwater (2), Blackthroated Diver (3) Prawle Point; Bittern Sherpa Marsh and Black Hole Marsh; Short-eared Owl and Glossy Ibis (still) Otter Estuary; Merlin Powderham Marshes; Waxwing (2) Buckfastleigh and (3) Chudleigh; Snow Bunting Baggy Point. 5 Ruff (3) Seaton Marshes; Waxwing (2) Slapton and Ilfracombe. 6 Merlin South Milton Ley; Curlew Sandpiper Turf Lock; Jack Snipe Kilmington; Waxwing Budleigh Salterton and Newton Abbot. 7 Bittern South Milton Ley; Great Grey Shrike and Merlin Bursdon Moor; Waxwing (2) Exeter and Plymouth. 8 Rough-legged Buzzard Slapton Ley; Red Kite Torbay; tristis Chiffchaff Broadsands. 9 Waxwing (9) Exeter. 10 Glossy Ibis Exminster village; Short-eared Owl Dawlish Warren; Waxwing (7) Paignton and (2) Sidmouth. 9

10 11 Red-necked Grebe Dawlish Warren; Velvet Scoter Instow; Waxwing Bideford and (4) Torquay; Firecrest (3) Man Sands. 12 Velvet Scoter (4) Dawlish Warren; Bittern Yealm Estuary; Spoonbill (9) Isley Marsh; Waxwing Exmouth and (3) Goodrington; Brambling (700+), Lapland Bunting and Woodlark (3) Powderham Marshes. 13 Red-breasted Goose (2) Topsham; Marsh Harrier and Bearded Tit (3) Slapton Ley; Snow Bunting Dawlish Warren; Black Redstart (2) Seaton. 14 Bittern Slapton Ley, Braunton Marsh and Roadford Reservoir. 15 Slavonian Grebe (5) and Firecrest Dawlish Warren; Bittern Lopwell Dam; Red Kite Princetown; Waxwing (6) Ilfracombe. 17 Bittern Exminster Marshes; Waxwing (2) Teignmouth. 18 Black-necked Grebe Dawlish Warren; Red Kite Kennford; Bittern Exeter; Waxwing (30) Exmouth, (5) Exeter, (4) Silverton and (1) Chudleigh; Lapland Bunting Colyford. 19 Balearic Shearwater Prawle Point; Ruff Penhill Marsh; Lapland Bunting Wembury. 20 Smew (2) Exminster Marshes; Hen Harrier Starcross; Woodlark (5) Seaton. 21 Bittern Black Hole Marsh and Berrynarbor; Waxwing (14) Exeter and (20) Plymouth; Black Redstart Exeter. 22 Jack Snipe Exminster Marshes; Waxwing (36) Plymouth and (2) Clennon Valley; Woodlark (4) Teign Estuary; Cirl Bunting Exmouth. 23 Bittern Clennon Valley; Hen Harrier Dawlish Warren; Hen Harrier and Shorteared Owl Bolberry; Red Kite Willand; Ruff Turf Lock; Waxwing (4) Dawlish and (1) Dawlish Warren; Woodlark (20+) Wembury. 24 Bittern Beesands Ley; Waxwing (9) Paignton, (1) Wembury and (1) Teignmouth. 25 Smew and Hen Harrier Slapton Ley; Waxwing Colyton and (10) Plympton; Black Redstart Sharkham Point. 26 Red-necked Grebe Preston; Little Auk Broadsands; Scaup (5) Kingsbridge Estuary; Pintail (264) Exmouth; Yellow-legged Gull Exmouth; Hen Harrier Man Sands; Waxwing Axminster; Woodlark (12) Wembury. 27 Black-throated Diver and Great Skua Dawlish Warren; Smew Fremington Quay; Hen Harrier Topsham; Hen Harrier and Merlin East Soar; Balearic Shearwater (2), Black-throated Diver and Glaucous Gull Prawle Point; Hawfinch (3) Holcombe Burnell. 28 Marsh Harrier Topsham and Exminster Marshes; Hen Harrier Powderham Marshes; Goosander (21) Tamar Lakes. 30 White-fronted Goose (5) Exminster Marshes; Merlin and Woodlark (2) Orcombe Point; Lapland Bunting Baggy Point. 31 Whooper Swan Weare Giffard and (6) Seaton; Red-throated Diver (140+) Hartland area; Great Grey Shrike Woodbury Common and Hawkerland Common; Lapland Bunting Woodbury Common; Black Redstart Starcross. 10

11 January 1 Sooty Shearwater Torbay and Prawle Point; White-fronted Goose (10) and Bittern (up to 5?) Exminster Marshes; Velvet Scoter (8) Seaton Bay; Long-tailed Duck Starcross; Bittern, Red-necked Grebe, Black-necked Grebe (3), Blackthroated Diver (2) and Firecrest (2+) Slapton Ley; Red-necked Grebe (2) Torbay; Jack Snipe Kilmington; Waxwing (9) Seaton and (9) Cullompton; Snow Bunting Higher Willhays. 2 Great Northern Diver (3), Black-throated Diver (4) and Water Pipit Prawle; Hen Harrier Exminster Marshes; Velvet Scoter (2) Beesands; Ruff Axmouth; Waxwing (6) Dawlish; Firecrest Wembury; Black Redstart Dawlish Warren. 3 Puffin Berry Head; Waxwing Torquay and (6) Exeter. 4 Red Kite Haldon Hill; Great Grey Shrike Hartland Forest; Waxwing (51) Exeter. 5 Bittern South Huish Marsh; Jack Snipe Thurleston Marsh; Black Redstart Ilfracombe; Cirl Bunting (2) Ladram Bay. 6 Short-eared Owl (2) Bursdon Moor; Black Redstart Westward Ho!. 7 Pomarine Skua (2) and Auk sp. (c12,800) Berry Head; Great Grey Shrike Ashburton; Waxwing (20) Bovey Tracey; Black Redstart Plymouth and Bideford. 8 Manx Shearwater and Slavonian Grebe (7) Dawlish Warren; Red-necked Grebe and Slavonian Grebe (8) Beesands; Spoonbill Plym Estuary; Hen Harrier (2) Colaton Raleigh Common. 9 Red-necked Grebe, Scaup and Long-tailed Duck (still) Torbay; Red-necked Grebe Dawlish Warren; Smew (2) River Taw; Jack Snipe Man Sands; Great Grey Shrike Tavistock, Cold East Cross and Aylesbeare; Waxwing Plymouth; Lapland Bunting (2) and Firecrest Prawle Point. 10 Sooty Shearwater Dawlish Warren then Berry Head; Waxwing (2) Newton Abbot. 11 Sooty Shearwater Brixham; Velvet Scoter (11) Seaton Hole; Firecrest Paignton. 12 Black-throated Diver Dawlish Warren; Waxwing (9) Axminster and (2) Torquay. 14 Black Redstart Ilfracombe. 15 Black-throated Diver Hope s Nose; Scaup (now 7) Dawlish Warren; Short-eared Owl Exminster Marshes. 16 Pink-footed Goose South Huish Marsh; Manx Shearwater Prawle Point. 17 Great Skua (6) at sea; Marsh Harrier South Huish Marsh; Bittern Otter Estuary; Waxwing (7) Newton Abbot. 18 Pink-footed Goose Wrafton Pond; Little Auk Teignmouth; Black Redstart Brixham. 19 Bittern South Huish Marsh; Black Redstart Exmouth. 21 Slavonian Grebe (2) Thurleston Bay; Firecrest Slapton Ley; Black Redstart Preston, Totnes and Dawlish Warren (2). 11

12 22 Purple Sandpiper (3) Thurleston Bay; Cirl Bunting Orcombe Point. 23 Bittern (2) Countess Wear; Firecrest (3) South Milton Ley; Black Redstart Braunton. 24 AMERICAN PURPLE GALLINULE (found dead) Mary Tavy; Red-necked Grebe Start Bay. 25 Red-necked Grebe, Slavonian Grebe and Black-necked Grebe (20) Torbay; Water Pipit (2) Bowling Green Marsh; Waxwing (7), tristis Chiffchaff and Firecrest Broadsands. 27 Merlin Exminster Marshes. 28 Short-eared Owl Exminster Marshes; Scandinavian Herring Gull (2) Axe Estuary. 29 Short-eared Owl (2) Northam Burrows; Red-necked Grebe Slapton; Jack Snipe Seaton Marshes. 30 Red-necked Grebe Thurleston Bay; Spotted Redshank (2) Tamerton Foliot Creek; Whimbrel Dawlish Warren. 31 Black-throated Diver (3) Ladram Bay; Slavonian Grebe Seaton; Pink-footed Goose Bradiford Reserve; Great White Egret Slapton Ley; Firecrest (2) South Milton Ley. WE NEED VOLUNTEERS CAN YOU HELP? Please contact Hon. Secretary Joy Vaughan Tel: WEBSITE Did you know that there is now a (small but developing) shop on the website? Well worth a visit! News items, short articles and photos for to Ian Farrell, Bridge Farm, Bridge Reeve, Chulmleigh, Devon EX18 7BD Tel: webmaster@devonbirds.org Articles for the Harrier should be received by 31 st March 2011 and submitted to Joy Vaughan, 28 Fern Meadow, Okehampton, Devon EX20 1PB Tel: joy@vaughan411.freeserve.co.uk or editor.harrier@devonbirds.org Please send items (preferably by ) though clearly written copy will be accepted 12